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wilcal

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Everything posted by wilcal

  1. wilcal
    Not sure how familiar you are, so I'll give a broad explanation. When you build a house/business/etc, the city of Houston says you have to build so many parking spaces depending on how large whatever you are building is. The Central Business District has an exemption from (some of) these rules, presumably because there are people that don't need to park to enjoy your establishment. The city is looking at expanding those loosened rules to the surrounding areas.
  2. wilcal
    Evidently, the city had an RFP process this summer for dockless bike share and will act sometime this fall? Hopefully, scooters will be included! I saw that they are banned from Buffalo Bayou Park via city ordinance
  3. wilcal
    Some new renderings were presented at the open house last night. They said that they would be up on the Houston Planning website by the end of the week. Updated timelines: Initial concept development through summer '19. There's a TxDOT deadline then where they have to know about trees on bridges, etc. Design work begins then and has a deadline of Dec 19. Construction from TxDOT begins 2020 or 2021. Big question is keeping/demoing the Pierce Elevated. They are still unsure, but the renderings today showed it in place. Talked with one of the presenter's associates and they said that they have had some engineering work done to determine the feasibility and it looks very good. Land swap between the city and TxDOT looks good. He said they've even looked at the possibility of using the concrete barriers to hold in soil to plant trees/grass and engineering said it was workable. Would likely need "stakeholders" to help with the development. Meaning commercial spaces below and on top to help develop their portion. He made it sound like the city may be up for renting or selling part of the land that they receive for further development to hug the elevated park. I somehow forgot to take a picture, but the Pierce would dump into a large park underneath 45 where Hutchins is approximate. They had some decent renderings of this. They're now planning a pedestrian/bike only bridge to connect Polk into downtown. I think we knew this, but full Montrosification of the 3 Third Ward bridges: https://i.imgur.com/tBwGZnU.jpg As you can see on the renderings, adding separated bike/pedestrian lanes and they want to integrate trees and/or grass on the bridge. New render of the EaDo Cap. Pretty spectacular imho even though BBVA gets the shaft on how big it is (it's the same length as MMP). Elevated walkways to GRB built as hotels are built and needed them. Some type of outdoor concert venue towards the south end of the cap. https://i.imgur.com/F1ll4Oq.jpg "Program Areas" of the cap: https://i.imgur.com/IMtlgqc.jpg Train-themed park area on the cap. Speaker talked about the history of trains in that area, wants to integrate that into that portion of the cap. https://i.imgur.com/5s2nAyn.jpg "Trailhead Overlook Hill" is a key entry into the parks system. Rent a bike and explore, etc. Several blocks of elevated pedestrian/bike highway. Big part of the green loop initiative. I talked with the associate about how the goal is to have as few as 10 road crossings for bikes/pedestrians for an entire loop of downtown. https://i.imgur.com/70H1eKe.jpg The latest image of the NE corner: https://i.imgur.com/VhbaXoJ.jpg Those are detention ponds in the center. Think we knew pretty much all of this. Frostown Crossing portion utilizes existing historical railway as part of the elevated bikeway. https://i.imgur.com/tUtb9ju.jpg
  4. wilcal
    Not sure if the sign is still up, but there's a large for information sign for a broker group from Feb. 2017 which is well after those plans for the office building were released.
  5. wilcal
    Wooooooooow. What a stunner!
  6. wilcal
    Totally forgot about this spot! This could be quite the site for something cool. I wonder if it's still for sale. HCAD says no change of ownership since 07.
  7. wilcal
    That makes sense. Was just thinking that they might have a shot at 60ish spaces on a single level, but I guess they still would need a ramp in and out. Edit: just noticed on the rendering that there will be 10 spots at ground level, so maybe they can get away with those 10 plus a bike rack plus 45-50 underground?
  8. wilcal
    That doesn't sound too crazy to me if you want to have public parking for the retail be separate. Maybe the second story is split a la West Ave?
  9. wilcal
    "Northeast corner of West Dallas and Montrose that would give them ample space to build their project." Pretty sure that one is also under development. "My point is that you'd be hard pressed to name a major development in Montrose in the past 10 years that shares a block with a bunch of single-family homes." Isn't the place across the street from you like that? https://i.imgur.com/UNL72sc.png
  10. wilcal
    I live across Montrose, but I don't think it's that out of place. Montrose Boulevard is continuing to densify, and there are already several large apartments within a few blocks. Plus the El Tiempo across the cross is going to get redeveloped at any moment. The lot at Fairview/Montrose is a bit bigger I think, but it's being redeveloped too. Where were you thinking that would be more appropriate? I'm guessing you think more towards Allen Parkway?
  11. wilcal
    It's possible. If someone is connected though, it would be them. They have several projects in town and have worked for a large Houston developer (although not the one on this porject) so they are likely very well connected.
  12. wilcal
    A little birdy has told me that they had seen the renderings of this project and that they were "next level". I mentioned about the low planned renovation cost mentioned here and they said that he didn't think it was close to possible with the renderings they saw. Don't want to stoke the fires with non-info, but I'm excited about the possibilities.
  13. wilcal
    Swamplot post on the demo starting with a few more pics: http://swamplot.com/the-breakdown-of-the-river-oaks-shopping-centers-cafe-ginger-and-neighboring-portions/2018-07-19/
  14. wilcal
    Yeah, it's flickr's website saying that they are adult links and you must be logged in to view them. Try opening in an incognito window.
  15. wilcal
    Funny, when I see them do this they work for the city of Houston.
  16. wilcal
    Truck parked on the sidewalk I guess that's an improvement over being parked in the bike lane when I rode by the other day
  17. wilcal
    That's looking like it's gonna open right in time for winter.
  18. wilcal
    Do we know what is going up there?
  19. wilcal
    I actually don't feel comfortable biking on it because I think the only drivers that drive on Main are lost, and I don't want dumb drivers with no way to pass me safely being behind me.
  20. wilcal
    I think there is a church that has 1 or 2 Main-facing handicap spots that they use for dropoffs as well. I went the whole route on google street view a year or so ago and I think the net loss of parking spaces is like 9ish for the entire run. There is a gas station that uses Main as it's major thoroughfare as well. Basically, a shockingly small amount of negative effect to close that much of a road through the heart of the urban core.
  21. wilcal
    So pedestrians and bikers can use it without getting run over by cars. We have no dedicated north/south bike lane, and this could run from the Museum District all of the way to the north edge of downtown.
  22. wilcal
    (new thread, or is this one ok?) $30 million renovation in process after Harvey related damages http://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/05-16-18-omni-hotel-houston-renovations-reservations-open-date/#slide=0
  23. wilcal
    And now we should continue the development of Main Street, and close it to cars! Convert the driving lines to bike lanes!
  24. wilcal
    I see it now. You're right, it'll have it's own ramp that bypasses 59. Makes sense.
  25. wilcal
    Looking at the map, I'm kind of confused how you would go from say, Minute Maid Park, to get on 288. The only on-ramp I see is would be Webster, and 288 splits off before that.
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